ISTANBUL – Pope Leo XIV held prayers at the Armenian Apostolic Cathedral in Istanbul on Sunday, in a gesture of support for Christian unity and for Christian minorities in Turkey, the Associated Press reports.
According to the agency, Pope Leo and the Istanbul-based Armenian Patriarch Sahak II Mashalian entered the Holy Mother of God Patriarchal Church in a cloud of incense, accompanied by a male choir chanting in the Church’s ancient tradition. Approximately 500 Armenian worshipers were in attendance.
Following the service, a brief dedication ceremony was held during which Pope Leo unveiled a marble inscription in his honor.
Popes Paul VI, John Paul II, and Benedict XVI all visited the Armenian Apostolic Cathedral during their respective trips to Istanbul.
“The Papacy has long served as a moral compass, defending the dignity of every human being, championing peace, and giving voice to those who have none,” Patriarch Sahak said. “The Armenian people do not forget the Popes who raised their voice in our times of suffering, who stood with Christian communities in danger, and who upheld the truth when the world hesitated.”
In his remarks, the Pope expressed gratitude to God for “the courageous Christian witness of the Armenian people throughout history, often under tragic circumstances.”
Pope Leo XIV recalled that the first joint declaration between the Roman Pontiff and the Patriarch of the Eastern Orthodox Church was signed in May 1970 by Pope Paul VI and Catholicos Vazgen I. “Since that time, by the grace of God, the ‘dialogue of charity’ between our Churches has flourished,” he said.
The Pope noted that his visit to Turkey is dedicated to the Nicene Creed, as the Church marks the 1700th anniversary of the Council of Nicaea, and he reflected on the unity that once prevailed between East and West during the early centuries of the Church’s life.
“We must draw inspiration from the experience of the early Church to restore full communion—one that does not imply absorption or domination, but rather the mutual exchange of the gifts received from the Holy Spirit by our Churches, for the glory of God the Father and the building up of the Body of Christ,” Pope Leo XIV stated.
Pope Leo’s visit is one of several encounters in Turkey and Lebanon with Armenian Christian faithful, recognizing their deep historical roots in the region, Vatican spokesman Matteo Bruni said.
“Clearly, the Armenian presence in Istanbul is an ancient one—deeply rooted—and its significance has been evident in all the meetings held over the past several days,” he told reporters.
